Constitutional conventions: best practice

“If progressives focus too much on the
institutional sphere, the right wing can take the streets – they’ve done it before. If we don’t, someone else
will.” Interview with the author of Hope is a Promise. (5,800 words)

Citizen coalitions have been in power for six months in Madrid, Barcelona, and many more cities in Spain. What are the main take-aways? And what will happen with the Spanish national elections of 20 December? (Video, 32 mins)

How did Spain's activist-politicians first get onto the ballot paper? Spain's media should take note - through their roots in prominent local struggles and willingness to spearhead radical democratic participation.

European institutions were designed to direct flows of global capital. In doing so, they’ve become less accountable to people. But in this gap between people and their institutions, citizens are rising up to reclaim the commons.

For over four years, the Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca (PAH) have responded to a national housing crisis through grassroots organising and direct action. To this day the movement has prevented over 800 evictions across the country. Here Carlos Delclós interviews PAH activist Elvi Mármol.

Rather than submit to the noxious dynamics of Spain’s colossal
underground economy, the migrant workers of Mount Zion built an informal
city in the backdrop of 'brand' Barcelona. On the 24th July the
community was forcibly evicted and a humanitarian crisis was born.

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